On Friday, Selland’s Market Cafe will open its third location, which is at 915 Broadway in Sacramento. It fills half of a 15,000-square-foot building. But the knives were already chopping vegetables and the cookies were already stacked just so Tuesday, as Selland hosted a private event for friends and guests as a dry run for the concept.

“I call it guinea pig night,” Selland said, adding because the food was free, no one could complain too much. And any issues that did arise could be addressed before the restaurant, with indoor and outdoor capacity of about 200, opens to the public.

Selland Family Restaurants partnered with two executives from Unger Construction and two principals from Silva Stowell Architects LLP to buy the building and its 1.9-acre lot two years ago. Originally, Selland Family Restaurants planned to move The Kitchen, its high-end dining experience at 2225 Hurley Way, to the Broadway spot.

But Selland said diners told him they liked the intimate, somewhat hidden feel of The Kitchen’s current location. The next idea was to split the Broadway space into a counter service fish restaurant and a market and cafe, the latter a bigger version of existing Selland’s markets in East Sacramento and El Dorado Hills.

With such a big space, Selland will make the most of it, though he points out his wife, Nancy Zimmer, is the executive chef. Much of the kitchen space, down to the dishwashing area, is far larger than at other restaurants to make service quicker and more efficient. Selland said he believes the size of the kitchen will make it always possible to order and get food within 20 minutes.

The 915 Broadway location also has a full bakery area, which previously was at The Kitchen during dark hours. A dedicated bakery will benefit both The Kitchen and OBO’ Italian Table & Bar, which Selland opened last year on Folsom Boulevard.

Selland said when he and his partners bought the property, he thought it was one of the ugliest in Sacramento, with a thrift store the most recent occupant. “We took a blank shell and built it out,” he said.

City building officials wanted the exterior’s mid-century architecture to remain, so Selland said he concentrated on improving the parking lot. His daughter, Tamera Baker, handled the building design and kept to the mid-century theme. His son, Selland Family Restaurants CEO Josh Nelson, said he’d estimate the project cost more than $2.5 million.

That was a substantial investment, Selland said, but the goal is to deliver on promises of hospitality, service and food people expect from his branded restaurants.

“We build everything for longevity,” he said.

Though it might be the most visible, Selland’s Market Cafe won’t be the only building tenant. Silva Stowell is occupying about 3,000 square feet, and West Sacramento’s Bike Dog Brewing is taking the remainder for a tasting room, expected to open this summer.

Selland’s Market Cafe will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with plans to open for brunch around Memorial Day weekend.

“We started The Kitchen, what, 26 years ago now? And we had no idea it would turn into this,” Selland said. “I know, from my tenure, we do whatever is in our power to make you happy.”